Help:Editing basics

This article describes how to create a new article on Blooncyclopedia, how to edit a new article or an existing article, and the basics of using the source editor.

Creating an article

In order to create an article, you must first become Autoconfirmed by having an account that's at least 3 days old and making at least 10 edits. You can start creating an article by clicking on a red link. Alternatively, you can type the name of the article you want to create into the box below. These will take you to the editor. Remember to follow the title guidelines. Creating empty articles is not allowed.

Editing an article

To start editing an existing article, click on the "edit" or "edit source" button at the top of the page. You can also edit a specific section by clicking on the "edit" or "edit source" button next to the section heading; this will only allow you to see and edit within that section, which is useful for long articles.

Using the source editor

MediaWiki uses a markup language called wikitext to format articles. The visual editor actually works by converting your changes into wikitext behind-the-scenes, which you can see by switching to the source editor while editing.

Text styles

Text can be italicised, bolded, or both by surrounding it in quotes:

Style	Wikitext	Result
Italic	''Fancy sample text''	Fancy sample text
Bold	'''Fancy sample text'''	Fancy sample text
Both	'''''Fancy sample text'''''	Fancy sample text

Section headings

Section headings are created by surrounding the heading in equal signs. The spacing between the equal signs and the text doesn't matter. The heading must be the first part of a line, otherwise it won't be formatted.

Level	Wikitext	Result
2	== Level 2 header ==	Level 2
3	=== Level 3 header ===	Level 3
4	==== Level 4 header ====	Level 4
5	===== Level 5 header =====	Level 5
6	====== Level 6 header ======	Level 6

Lists

Bulleted lists

Bulleted lists are created by beginning a line with an asterisk. Multiple asterisks can be used to create sub-lists. The spacing between the asterisk(s) and the text doesn't matter. The asterisk(s) must be the first part of a line, otherwise it won't be formatted.

Style	Wikitext	Result
Single-level lists	* List item 1 * List item 2 * List item 3	List item 1 List item 2 List item 3
Multi-level lists	* List item 1-1 * List item 1-2 ** List item 2-1 ** List item 2-2 * List item 1-3 ** List item 2-3 *** List item 3-1 * List item 1-4	List item 1-1 List item 1-2 List item 2-1 List item 2-2 List item 1-3 List item 2-3 List item 3-1 List item 1-4
Splitting lists	* List item 1 * List item 2 * List item 1 * List item 2	List item 1 List item 2 List item 1 List item 2
Using line breaks	* List item 1 * List item 2<br>List item 2, the sequel * List item 3	List item 1 List item 2 List item 2, the sequel List item 3

Numbered lists

Numbered lists are created by beginning a line with a number sign. Multiple number signs can be used to create sub-lists. The spacing between the number sign(s) and the text doesn't matter. The number sign(s) must be the first part of a line, otherwise it won't be formatted.

Style	Wikitext	Result
Single-level lists	# List item 1 # List item 2 # List item 3	List item 1 List item 2 List item 3
Multi-level lists	# List item 1-1 # List item 1-2 ## List item 2-1 ## List item 2-2 # List item 1-3 ## List item 2-3 ### List item 3-1 # List item 1-4	List item 1-1 List item 1-2 List item 2-1 List item 2-2 List item 1-3 List item 2-3 List item 3-1 List item 1-4
Splitting lists	# List item 1 # List item 2 # List item 1 # List item 2	List item 1 List item 2 List item 1 List item 2
Using line breaks	# List item 1 # List item 2<br>List item 2, the sequel # List item 3	List item 1 List item 2 List item 2, the sequel List item 3